Art Lebedev showed off some nice concept art this week but also announced that the final version of their Optimus Maximus OLED keyboards has been delayed to February 2008 due to software problems:
Here is the reason for the delay. We have chosen a Philips processor that fully satisfied all our requirements. But as it is new as a product for Philips, they still experience some problems with the processor and we are compelled to work with draft documentation.
Nevertheless, much of the work on firmware has been completed. The keyboard already has basic functionality—it can switch images displayed on the keys (within a single layout set by the user). For example, the images will change accordingly if you press Shift or Num Lock while typing.
If experience and patience is not a problem for you, we are ready to offer prompt delivery of Optimus Maximus. The fact is that easy update of firmware will be possible only as the next version appears. So before that replacing the current firmware version with the next one is likely to present certain difficulties. If you do not have professional skills you may run into troubles installing and updating software. That is why we mention experience and patience J.
Current available versions of firmware and software are for PCs. So it is out of reach for Mac users till the end of January unless they have friends with PCs.
We are going to have new versions of firmware and software available on our website, so eventually the keyboard will function as advertised and become even better.
If you are ready to spend your weekend nursing the keyboard and choose to have it now, please send us a confirmation and we will send you your Optimus Maximus.
If you can wait to receive your Optimus Maximus, we can offer to deliver it the end of February. We will be able to offer you the product meeting your and our expectations.
